{news} Irish Greens in coalition government

[MaryAnne Davis]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6746969.stm

Irish Greens join Ahern coalition
 
Bertie Ahern has led coalition governments since 1997
The Republic of Ireland's Green Party has agreed to
join Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fail in
forming a coalition government.
If ratified by the party's membership on Wednesday,
the agreement will see the Greens in an Irish
government for the first time.

The deal means it is now likely that Mr Ahern will be
re-elected taoiseach when the parliament convenes on
Thursday.

The election on 24 May returned Mr Ahern but without a
clear majority.

Fianna Fail won 78 of the country's 166 parliamentary
seats last month, but Mr Ahern's coalition partners
the Progressive Democrats saw their tally drop from
eight to two.

So Mr Ahern needs the Greens to give him the margin he
needs.

New allies

The backing of the Greens' six legislators was secured
after nine days of tough negotiations.

Concessions from Fianna Fail on environmental and
transportation policy finally secured their support.


Fianna Fail made policy concessions to win the Greens
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said his negotiators
"believe that we have a basis for an agreement on a
programme for government which we are now going to
present to our members."

Fianna Fail won 78 seats in the 166-seat assembly, but
a decline in the vote of its previous coalition
partners, the Progressive Democrats, forced Mr Ahern
to look for more new allies.

Besides the Greens, Mr Ahern can count on several
independents and two surviving Progressive Democrats.

The main opposition Fine Gael polled well, winning 51
seats, but its potential coalition partner Labour
fared less well.

Even if the Greens had instead agreed to join Fine
Gael and Labour, the three parties combined could not
have overtaken Fianna Fail and the PDs.

The Republic of Ireland's system of proportional
representation means that parties' representation in
the Dail (lower house of parliament) closely matches
their percentage of the vote.

Bertie Ahern has led a coalition government since 1997
- a period of sustained economic growth for the
Republic.





       
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